Valve operating mechanism



Nov. 16, 1954 s oc 2,694,497

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 5, 1951 82 @744 o M k @QQQQQQ Q 4 4 1N VENTOR ATTORNEYS ite States Patent'O VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Arthur J. Stock, Cleveland, Ohio Application December 5, 1951, Serial No. 260,026

6 Claims. (Cl. 214-17) ilhis invention relates to an operating mechanism for va ves.

It is oftentimes desirable to operate a plurality of valves in sequence dependent upon the operation of other apparatus and in a manner to insure the optimum operating conditions of such other apparatus. in the past, the operation of plural valves in assemblies of this nature has been accomplished by providing eachvalve of the group with its own individual driving means andwith its own individual controlling means. The interrelation of the valves has been normally manifested by a complicated electrical circuit based upon a factor of time. In operation, the electrical circuit causes the controlling means for the driving means for the appropriate valve to become energized at the proper moment to control the period of operation of the driving means which in turn produces the required movement of the valve. The complexity of these systems is immediately obvious. In view of this complexity, the dangers. of malfunctioning and of a complete or partial breakdown by reason of a faulty part of the apparatus are greatly increased over what would be the case if a simpler apparatus were employed for the same purpose.

Accordingly, this invention provides a simpleapparatus for operating a. plurality of valves in sequence dependent upon the operation of other apparatus to insure the optimum operating conditions: of the other apparatus. By this invention an. individual driving. means for each valve is eliminated as well as individual control means and a complicated electrical circuit. This is accomplished by this invention by providing a single driving means for the plurality of valves and inter-relating their operation by mechanical means both as to time and movement.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simpler apparatus for operating a plurality of valves in sequence dependent upon the operation of other apparatus to insure the optimum operating conditions of the other apparatus than any heretofore available.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus of the type described which will operate in a more cflicient and economical manner than possible with any previous apparatus.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become readily apparent from a detailed consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation partly broken away showing the apparatus of the present invention operating a pair of gate valves; and

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section of Figure 1 taken along line 22.

Referring now to the drawing, Figure 1 shows the apparatus of the present invention utilized with a pair of gate valves. A pair of gate valves 10 and 12 are supported by any suitable structure, as for example, by roller assemblies 14 arranged in a known manner. The valves 10 and 12 provide communication into and out of a chamber generally designated as 16 through inlet 18 and outlet 20 of the chamber. By way of illustration, chamber 16 could be a weighing chamber for coal feeding apparatus supplying coal to a furnace operating at superatmospheric pressure. The outlet 20 of chamber 16 could be connected with the furnace through suitable intermediate apparatus and the inlet 18 could be associated with a conveyor for feeding coal from a bunker into the weighing chamber. Normally, the pressure in the furnace is maintained by one or more heads of coal at varithe bunker, as well as severe injury to the system.

Consequently, it is desirable to operate a pair of gate valves at the inlet and outlet of the weighing chamber in a manner to form an air lock for the purpose of main taining the pressure of the system and to prevent any blow-back of hot gases. 1 The present invention accomplishes the above as folows. of gate valve 10 for inlet 18 and a pair of cranks 24 mounted on shaft 26 which is supported by bearings 28 in the walls 30 of chamber 16. Fixed to the end of shaft 26 is a gear 32 having gear teeth 34 over approximately one-fourth of its periphery. The gear 32 is provided with a radial slot 36 in its face. a-similar gear 38 having. gear teeth 34 over approximately one-fourth of its periphery and a radial slot 36 in its face. Gear 38 is mounted for rotation on shaft 40.

A pair of links 42 are connected between one end of gate valve 12 for outlet 20 and a pair of cranks 44 mounted on shaft 46 which is supported by bearings 48 in the walls 30 of chamber 16. Fixed to the end of shaft 46 is a gear 48 having gear teeth 34' over approximately one-fourth its periphery. Gear 48 is provided with a radial slot 36 in its face. Gear 48 meshes witlr a similar gear 54 having gear teeth 34 over approximately one-fourth of its periphery and a radial slot 36 in its face; Gear 54 is mounted for rotation on shaft 69. Gear 32 does not mesh with gear 48 nor does gear 38 mesh with gear 54.

A motor 62 supplied from a suitable source of power drives a gear reducer 64'. The low-speed shaft 66 of reducer 64 has mounted at its end a Worm 68. Meshing with worm 68 is a worm gear 70 carried by a bearing mounted shaft 72 fixed to the wall 30- of chamber 16. Fastened" on shaft 72 is a crank 74 with a pin 76 projecting transversely at the end thereof. The operation of the motor 62 causes crank 74 to rotate in a clockwise direction. The movement of crank 74 results in pin 76 being received in radial slot 36 of gear 32 and moving gear 32, counterclockwise, for about This movement of gear 32 causes crank 22 to move to the position indicated as 80 and to open gate valve 10. As gears 32 and 38 are meshed, the movement of gear 32 produces a clockwise movement of gear 38 of the same angular degree. The radial slots 36 of gears 32 and 38 in this position are aligned and continued movement of crank 74 moves the pin 76 into the radial slot 36 of gear 38 and rotates this gear 38 counterclockwise for about 90 returning it to its original position. The gear 32 will also be rotated clockwise to the same degree thereby closing gate valve 10. As the radial slots 36 of gears 32 and 54 now align, the pin 76 will pass into slot 36 of gear 54 and rotate this gear 54 counterclockwise for about 90". Since gears 54 and 48 are meshed the movement of gear 54 will produce a rotation of gear 48 clockwise to the same degree and results in opening the gate valve 12 for outlet 20 and moving crank 44 to the position indicated as 82. The radial slots 36 of gears 54 and 48 now align and this permits the pin 76 to be received in radial slot 36 of gear 48 and rotate this gear 48 counterclockwise for about 90 thereby closing the gate valve 12 and returning gears 48 and 54 to their original positions. The crank 74 and pin 76 have now traveled through 360 and the gears and valves are in their original positions. It is therefore apparent that the desired movements of both gate valves 10 and 12 can emanate from the single motor 62. From the above it can be seen that an efficient air lock is provided as both gate valves are never open at the same time and also at least one valve is always closed.

As pin 76 enters the various radial slots 36 traveling parallel to the sides of the slots, there is no hammer blow between the various parts. As a result, the mechanism can be run very fast without undue wear of parts or noise.

While the present invention has been described with A pair of links 22 are connected between one end- Gear 32 meshes with an air lock, it is not limited to this purpose. By means of the principles of this invention two or more valves can be operated in any sequence desired. For example, three valves can be operated in a manner to form two air locks or alternatively the valves can be operated one after the other on a time basis consistent with the process being carried out by the apparatus associated with the valves.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, nevertheless various modifications and changes obvious to one skilled in the art are within the spirit, scope, and contemplation of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for operating a plurality of valves in sequence that comprises means connected with each valve for moving the valve between its terminal positions, said means including a pair of meshing gears each having a radial slot, the movement of the valve being responsive to movement of said pair of gears, a crank having means to be received in said radial slots to move said gears, said slots being relatively positioned so that upon rotation of thecrank they receive the said means in sequence, and means to drive said crank to cause movement of the valves in sequence.

2. Apparatus for operating a plurality of valves that comprises a first gear mechanically linked to each valve for moving the valve between its open and closed positions, a second gear mounted for rotation meshing with each of said first gears, said gears each provided with a radial slot, a crank mounted for rotation, a pin fixed to said crank to be sequentially received in said radial slots, and means to drive said crank to operate the valves in sequence.

3. Apparatus for operating a plurality of valves that comprises a plurality of first gears each being mechanically linked to a valve for moving the valve between its terminal positions, a plurality of second gears mounted for rotation each meshing with one of said first gears, said gears each provided with a radial slot, said radial slots for a first gear and the second gear meshing therewith being aligned for one terminal position of the valve linked to said first gear, said radial slots for a first gear and the second gear meshing therewith being aligned with the slots of another first gear and second gear for the other terminal position of the valve, a crank mounted for rotation, a pin fixed to said crank to be received in said radial slots, and means to drive said crank to operate the valves in sequence.

4. Apparatus for operating a pair of valves that comprises a first gear mechanically linked to each valve for moving the valve between its open and closed positions, a second gear mounted for rotation meshing with each of said first gears, said gears each provided with a radial slot, a crank mounted for rotation, a pin fixed to said crank to be sequentially received in said radial slots, and means to drive said crank to operate the valves in sequence.

5. Apparatus for operating a pair of valves that comprises a pair of first gears each being mechanically linked to a valve for moving the valve between its terminal positions, a pair of second gears mounted for rotation each meshing with one of said first gears, said gears each provided with a radial slot, said radial slots for each first gear and the second gear meshing therewith being aligned for one terminal position of the valve linked to said first gear, said radial slots for each first gear and second gear meshing therewith being aligned with the radial slots of the other first gear and second gear meshing therewith for the other terminal position of the valve, a crank mounted for rotation, a pin fixed to said crank to be received in said radial slots, and means to drive said crank to operate the valves in sequence.

6. In apparatus of the type described comprising a .pair of gate valves spaced apart and arranged to pass aggregate material sequentially the improvement that comprises means for opening the valves sequentially but always maintaining one valve in closed position so as to form an air lock, said means comprising a pivoted crank and a connecting link connected to each valve to open and close it, a pivoted slotted member mounted to pivot with each crank and so that the ends of the slots abut when the valves are closed, a pin adapted to move in said slots, a pivoted lever carrying said pin and means tolpivot said lever to sequentially open and close said va ves.

Name D Conti Feb.

Number ate 554,111 1896 

